Page 79 of All Jacked Up

“Maybe, but, no, I am not hung up on him. I kind of forget about him most of the time.” I felt like a bad person for admitting that.

“Good. Because you are way too good for that piece of shit. So, back to thisnot being emotionally availablething. It’s bullshit. You’ve just not met the right man.”

Oh, I’d met the right one, but I was just the wrong one for him. Or he just wasn’t one who believed in monogamy—or love for that matter.

The sound of Jellie’s phone ringing had her jumping up and hurrying to the door. “We will continue this conversation momentarily. Don’t think it’s done,” she said, pointing at me.

I nodded. I had no doubt she’d bring it back up. She was happy and in love and wanted me to be too.

And I was in love. Mine just wasn’t a romance; it was an angst-ridden one.

Twenty-Eight

Ransom

She was back in her bed, and I could relax.

She’d been cute today, arguing with the train conductor about her digital ticket, saying her seat was in the premium cabin. The man was so confused. I would guess that was the first time he’d had someone argue about being moved from coach to first class.

I’d considered getting on the damn train with her, but she’d have had questions I didn’t want to answer.

So, I had taken the short flight here, dealt with Linc—who was pissed about my leaving without telling him why and where—then camped out across the street and waited until she got home and was in bed long enough to be asleep before I made my way over.

Watching her sleep wasn’t what I should be doing. I should be on the damn plane, headed back to Madison. But here I was. Embracing the fact that she’d turned me into a psycho.

I couldn’t do this every time she had a date, and she’d have more men interested. The fucker whose car I had trashed lived two and a half miles from her. That piece of information had sent me into a small spin, but I’d reined it in somewhat. For now. As long as she didn’t see him again. If she did, then … well, I couldn’t promise his apartment wouldn’t catch on fire.

Yep. I had snapped. Lost my fucking mind.

The longer I stayed in here, the worse it was just going to get. I’d made sure she was home safe, and I needed to go. Moving from the shadows in the corner of her bedroom, I paused beside her. Damn, she was beautiful. Not as beautiful as when she was coming, but it was a close second. No … maybe third. She was fucking stunning when she laughed and her eyes lit up.

“What am I going to do with you?” I asked softly.

She was controlling me and didn’t even realize it. The only sleep I had gotten the past two weeks was on the nights I went to the guest bedroom where she’d slept and lay down in there. Wilma had washed the sheets, and I was pissed about it, but just being in the room where I’d slept with her helped.

I didn’t want anyone else touching her. That was a new development, and I realized I was going to be dangerous where that was concerned. Was this it? That thing that made the others lock themselves to one woman? Had this been why? They’d done some unhinged shit. I knew that much. I’d helped Oz with his insanity. We all had. I hadn’t understood it then, but now it made sense.

Could I have her and not lose our friendship? Was that a possibility? Because I needed her in my life. Sure, I wanted to slam my dick into her until I was buried deep inside, but more than that, I needed her to make me smile. I needed to hear her laugh.

Damn, why had this gotten so twisted up?

Stepping away from the bed before I touched her and chancedwaking her up, I eased toward the door quietly. A light illuminated the room that caused me to stop and glance back. Her phone was lighting up, but she had it on silent. I walked back over to it and looked down to see the name.

Thirst was on it. Who the fuck was Thirst?

Snatching it up, I swiped over it, and the numbers for her passcode came up. Not an issue. I could bypass that. Taking it with me, I headed out of the bedroom and closed her door softly behind me before moving into the living room and kitchen area, where she had left a light on over the bar.

Typing in the code that would unlock her phone, due to the hidden app I’d put on it to track her, it opened, and I went to the text messages to see who Thirst was.

Thirst: Sorry about this morning. That was a fucking nightmare. Jellie said you went home, and I can’t say I blame you. Her apartment complex needs an updated security system. I’m back too. Good to be back in Manhattan. What does your Sunday look like? We never had that brunch.

I seethed as I read over the fucker’s words again, then deleted it and blocked his number. Thirst? Had he told her to put that in there? Had she called him that? Did they already have inside jokes? And what fucking brunch had they been planning on having?

Contempt began to slowly burn through my veins, and I set her phone on the counter, for fear I might destroy it. Taking a step back, I inhaled deeply, doing my best to calm the maddening that seemed to only be triggered by another man getting close towhat was mine.

Mine? Was she mine? Yes. She was fucking mine. She was my calm. She was the ray of light that I needed.

I swung my gaze back to the closed door of her bedroom.

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